Palace of Westminster

Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, located on the north bank of the River Thames in Westminster, London, England. It was named for the nearby Westminster Abbey, and the first palace was built in 1016. It was the primary residence of the English monarchs until much of it was destroyed by fire in 1512; since the 13th century, Parliament also met in the Palace. In 1834, an even greater fire destroyed the palace, which was demolished and rebuilt from 1840 to 1876. The Commons Chamber was bombed in 1941 during World War II, causing air pollution which persisted for decades. The Palace is one of London's most famous landmarks, both as a medieval palace and as the "Houses of Parliament".